Thanks to all the readers who signed up to join my four-month weight-loss challenge to lose 25 pounds by May. Together we will continue to cultivate healthy habits as we remind ourselves that without excellent health, we may not be able to enjoy financial accomplishments. As we focus on financial freedom, this will be our year to be "healthy, wealthy and wise".

Tips

1. Reduce your calories by adding extra water to all drinks.

2. Force yourself to continue daily exercise. If you are unable to join a gym, use the stairs, walk when you go shopping and skip and dance at home to burn extra calories.

According to Dr Melanye Maclin, medical expert on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Fox 5 DC, and featured in Chris Rock's movieGood Hair
and creator of Bella Nutri products, "skin also requires internal nutrition for its outer beauty". As a dermatologist, she emphasises the fact that what we feed our bodies determines the essence of maintaining an ideal body weight, which will ultimately keep our pockets financially fit.

We have all heard the cliché 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'! It is critical to provide our bodies with balanced nutritional meals. It is just as important to drink at least 8-10, eight-ounce glasses of water daily. With a proper diet, we can get all the necessary vitamins A-Z and minerals necessary for maintaining our ideal body weight and operation.

Dr Maclin adds that, despite eating properly, she encourages us to take a multivitamin every day. In addition, for those with water retention contributing to extra pounds, keep up your potassium intake, especially for those persons on chronic diuretics. Also, a potassium gluconate supplement is a wonderful safe addition, but discuss with your doctor if you already take prescription potassium. She also favours adding a magnesium supplement daily to help keep muscle, nerves and skin functioning properly.

After 15 years of research, Dr Maclin discovered key marine proteins and collagen that work from within to improve the skin called BellaNutri skin supplement (www.bellanutri.com[1]
). It will reveal softer, smoother skin texture along with reducing large pores, decreasing fine lines/wrinkles, reducing appearance of scars and stretch marks even from excess weight gain. By internally nourishing the skin with these nutrients, you will find yourself spending less on skincare products and, surely, all those costly cosmetic office procedures. By following these few simple nutritional rules for your body, not only will you get closer to your ideal body weight and healthier more beautiful skin, but your pockets will also be financially liberated!

Personal Progress

Since starting the programme, I have dropped seven pounds by cutting out dairy products, not eating at nights and eating smaller portions. Let us continue to support each other as we remember The What What What Approach - What you do with what you have determines what you become. We have each other and, as we lose these extra pounds, we will share the most effective methods.